Trailing 14-7 in the second quarter at Colorado last Saturday, Bralon Addison took a reverse pitch from Royce Freeman and darted towards the opposite side of the field. But, rather than continuing his stride, the former high school quarterback settled in the pocket and launched a 39-yard strike to a streaking Charles Nelson for the score.
It was the type of razzle-dazzle play often associated with the Ducks. However, this one had a distinctly different taste to it, and with one quick glance at Twitter, you would understand why.
Bralon Addison for full-time QB?
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) October 4, 2015
Does it still count as a trick play if Bralon Addison (our best receiver) is *legitimately* our best option to play QB? He was a H.S. star. — Bryan Kalbrosky (@BryanKalbrosky) October 4, 2015
Calls for Addison to become the starting quarterback came from every direction on the social media site. Even a @BAforQB2 account was created during the game, including the hashtag #BAforQB.
Despite the Ducks regaining some rhythm offensively and beating Colorado 41-24 that night, one truth was too hard to dismiss: Addison may have thrown the best pass of the game.
That is the state of the quarterback position at this point in the season.
While head coach Mark Helfrich said things like, “I should have to pay to watch that guy play,” in post-game press conferences last year when talking about Marcus Mariota, this year it seems he should be rewarded complimentary Advil when reaching the podium.
Jeff Lockie, a two-star recruit coming out of high school, according to ESPN, and Taylor Alie, a walk-on from Sheldon high in Eugene, split reps throughout the game Saturday. The two combined to complete just 12 passes and by the second half, were really just there to hand the ball off to the Ducks’ running backs.
And with Vernon Adams Jr.’s status still uncertain, the issues at quarterback could persist for much longer than the team, coaches or fans could have ever expected coming into the year. After all, the Ducks were ranked No. 7 in the preseason AP poll.
With the Adams’ injury, the Ducks have now displayed just how extreme the gap in talent was between Mariota and his backups the last few years. It also seems to further indicate that a program with a three-year starter, especially nowadays, can lead to a tougher sell for incoming quarterback recruits.
“We’d love to recruit guys and have them be great players and stay five years and redshirt, but it’s just not realistic,” Helfrich said on Sunday. “I think from whatever inputs these guys get today, that as soon as someone else is on campus, the other guy has to transfer. We have guys who are committed, so guys on our team should transfer.
“Across the country right now, there’s transfers playing everywhere, there’s graduate transfers playing everywhere.”
According to the way Oregon acted this offseason, it was supposed to be starting a graduate transfer too.
But it hasn’t worked out that way. And now Helfrich may be planning on a quarterback rotation for the second consecutive week.
If Twitter had anything to say about it, he’d be including Addison in that rotation as well. And while it can be clever to think that way, it illustrates the headache that the quarterbacks’ performance the last two weeks has provoked.
From a sheer talent standpoint though, the individuals behind center have never shown the potential – at least in a college game – to lead Oregon to what its fans were expecting at the beginning of this season.
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise
